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Meeting Boris

Lottie Jones writes:

Ruislip Against HS2 had the opportunity to meet with Boris Johnson last week to directly discuss HS2.It was useful to be able to draw his attention to the many ongoing local concerns. Boris obviously has a greater interest in understanding more of the local detail of the plans, given that he will stand as prospective Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Boris Johnson and Lottie Jones earlier in 2014

Despite the route now being tunnelled through what would be his potential constituency, there are still enormous impacts from construction work and subsequent blight to be considered. Many residents are relieved that the line will be underground here as homes and businesses will no longer be demolished.However there are many impacts of HS2 that can’t be buried and we made it clear that our objections to the project are as strong as ever and go far beyond local issues.

Boris shares our concerns for many of the wider impacts of HS2,especially in London,and not least the ongoing saga of Euston which he described as a ‘complete shambles’.

He is in strong agreement that the Heathrow spurs are an unnecessary part of the route and he has confirmed his support of the arguments currently being put forward by the local MPs Nick Hurd, Sir John Randall and Dominic Grieve that the Heathrow section of the route should be officially scrapped.

He also confirmed that he would be pushing for much more mitigation through West London and he understands the importance of extending the Northolt tunnel to protect the homes and landscape of Ickenham and Harefield and of course the much loved H.O.A.C.

We are encouraged by Boris’s response and his confirmation that he will not support HS2 in it’s current form. He has stated that if elected as MP he would not vote in favour of HS2 at the 3rd reading of the hybrid bill, unless his conditions for changes and mitigation are met. We look forward to continuing our discussions with him. We feel sure he understands how important an issue HS2 is to our community and this will not be lost on him as we head towards the election next year.

He listened to the continuing concerns about HS2’s lack of detail on the effect of any pre work and during actual construction, noting in particular the impact on West End Rd near to Ruislip Gardens.

Boris said, ” I can reaffirm my opposition to this scheme unless we can be satisfied beyond doubt that any proposed mitigation builds upon the success we have already achieved by having the route tunnelled throughRuislip. Defeat the need for the Heathrow spur and the tunnel can then go beyond Harefield. My support is also conditional on a suitable direct link to HS1″.